EC Meeting July 2017

but some unions, such as Napo have seen a significant reduction of membership in

managerial roles and could learn from unions who have retained strong managerial

membership levels. This BCGM calls upon the GFTU to:

identify examples of best practice and such opportunities for such sharing

use the training co-ordinators network to support this activity

identify champions, who can be supported to lead on progressing identified themes

use the GFTU’S network to access academics, specialists and experts in other fields to

support developing the highest quality of training and practice in these critical skills.

ACTION

Motion 4 NAPO

Promoting efficiencies & greater

inter-union co-operation

1. The GFTU provides a safe space for union leaders to come together, share challenges, and

celebrate successes. However, all GFTU affiliates will be aiming to stretch resources so they

have the maximum impact for members and this BCGM believes that the GFTU is not

fulfilling it’s potential as a broker for finding shared solutions to common resourcing

challenges amongst affiliates.

2. By definition affiliates are small so capacity to find solutions to internal operational

challenges is difficult - in terms of time, expertise and cost. For example, Napo would like to

have cutting edge integrated ICT platforms that could make our membership, finance and

communications more efficient and effective with a direct benefit for supporting activists,

campaigning and organising. This is difficult as we have limited time and expertise to devote

to this and options can be disproportionately expensive.

3. This BCGM believes that through the safe space provided by the GFTU, common

challenges can be identified and common solutions explored, extending to shared

commissioning and economies of scale in areas such as ICT, insurance and internal financial

support, internal legal services, and aspects of HR support.

4. This principle can extend to shared commissioning of research into common bargaining

challenges, with the GFTU brokering this via their network of academics.

5. Indeed, this BCGM believes the GFTU is uniquely placed to promote, coordinate and

broker such sharing across affiliates.

Therefore, this BCGM calls upon the GFTU to:

include opportunities to specifically promote this sharing in the GFTU annual events

programme.